Sink structure



March l, 1960 F, J. HQRNlK 2,926,361

SINK STRUCTURE Filed May 24, 1957 ZZZEZZQP l 2,916,361 snsx srRUcrURn Frank I. Hornik, Southfield Township, Mich., assigner to Lyilr: Incorporated, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of ware Application May 24, 1951, seran No. 661,44 6 claim. (ci. 4-181) The present invention relates to improvements in sink structures and more particularly to what are known as self-rimming sinks. The term self-rimming, as used herein, refers to that class of sinks which have a marginal tlauge extending from the bowl portion and atwise supported on a deck surface without need for separate trim structure for said 'marginal flange.

In certain installations of self-rimming sinks, it is desirable to provide moldings along certain edges or margins of the working space or top or deck structure including the sink bowl structure' itself. This creates certain problems with respect to joining of the rim iiange portions of the sink and the molding structures.

It is accordingly an important object of the present invention to provide a self-rimming sink installation novel means for connecting the molding and the marginal flange structure of the sink.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means for connecting together a sink marginal structure and molding applied along a margin of a sink and deck assembly.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved sink construction which is selectively usable either with or without associated molding in the installation with a supporting and work space deck or table top arrangement.

Still another object of the invention is to provide sink marginal structure adapted to b connected to a selfrimming ange of a sink bowl construction when molding structure is to be assembled with the sink rim.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide novel self-locking means for facilitating assembly of a sink rim flange structure and an assembled molding member.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of a selfrimming sink installation embodying features of the invention;

Figure 2 is a substantially enlarged fragmentary sectional detail view taken substantially on the line II-II of Figure l;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional detail view taken substantially on the line III-III of Figure l; and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional elevational detail view, on a reduced scale, and taken substantially on the line IV-IV of Figure 2.

A sink bowl structure 5 is constructed to be supported by a table top or deck 7. The sink bowl structure 5 is preferably made as a sheet metal stamping or drawn member made from suitable gauge stainless steel or the like. For example, stainless steel of .037 inch thickness has been found suitable for this purpose.

The sink structure 5 may be of single or double bowl structure, the double bowl arrangement being shown. Each of the bowls of the sink is provided with a vertical wall formation 8 (Fig. 2), with a lateral marginal flange 9 entirely about the sink bowl formation providing a rim for vengaging the top of the deck 7 about a clearance opening 10 therein into which the sink bowls are set in nitcd States Patent 2,926,361 Patented Mar. l, 196@ the assembly.y Along the rear of the sink structure 5, the tiange 9 `is preferably of substantially wider form than at the sides and front to provide a utility shelf 11 for accommodating plumbing fixtures or the like, various perforations being provided therein as required.

For retaining the sink bowl structure 5 in place with respect to the deck member 7 and with the flange in selfrimming, sink supporting engagement upon the sink top or deck 7 suitable retaining clips or fasteners 12 at the sides of the sink bowl under the tiange 9, as indicated in Figure l, may be used. Ordinarily similar retaining structure would be used along the front of the sink and possibly also along the back of the sink.

In the present instance, a molding structure 13 is used along the. back of the sink assembly and provides a splash guard that extends upwardly a substantial distance and may engage and provide a joint with a vertical wall surface W. As best seen in Figure 3, the molding 13 includes a heavy gauge molding member 14 which may be made from a relatively inexpensive material affording a sturdy backing in the form of an upwardly projecting panel or apron portion with a lower generally channel shaped deck edge engageable base portion 15. A thin protective stainless steel or like jacket or cladding or facing 17 is provided on the backing member 14 and has a lower resilient foot portion 18.

For coacting with the molding assembly 13, the rear portion of the marginal rim ange 9 of the sink is provided with an extension portion 19 which is preferably formed as a separate rolled sheet metal member formed from the same stock as the sink member 5 and welded as at 20 to the edge of the rear portion of the ange 9. The extension portion 19 has a generally U-shaped extremity portion 21 that is engageable in complementary relation within the U-shaped base portion l5 of the molding member. The U-shaped assembly thus provided is engaged about the inner margin of the deck 7 which, as shown, comprises a wooden base or table top panel 22 provided with a surfacing 23 which may comprise a thermosetting plastic material. Actually the width of the channel provided by the channel shaped nested portions 15 and 21 is somewhat wider than the thickness of the deck top, so as to facilitate assembly and a iiller strip which may comprise a piece of plywood 24 is then inserted between the lower forwardly turned ange assembly of the channel shaped nested portions, and a filler of cement 25 may be tilled in between the edge of the deck top and the inside of the embracing nested U-assembly. The foot portion 18 of the covering or sheathing member 17 of the molding bears resiliently against the top of the extension member or portion 19 and provides a snug fillet at the juncture between the molding and the top of the sink ange structure.

At the front of the sink assembly, a molding structure 27 is applied which is of generally U-shape or channel cross-section and comprises a heavy gauge core member 28 of an inexpensive grade of material having a cover- ICCA . ing or sheath 29 of thin gauge highly corrosion resistant material such as stainless steel attached snugly thereto and provided with a return-bent attaching tlange portion 30 along the lower leg of the core member 28 and a return-bent attachment tiange 31 along the upper leg of the core member, with an inwardly projecting lapping fold flange 32 extending beyond the adjacentv edge of the upper leg of the core member for overlying the deck top margin.

For coacting with the molding member 27, the front portion of the rim flange 9 of the sink is provided with a front extension portion 33 which is preferably constructed from the same material as the sink proper and is preferably provided as a separately rolled strip that is welded in butt joint relationship as at 34 to the edge of the forward rim liange portion.' Forwardly from the joint 34 and adjacent to the forward edge of the deck top, the member 33 is provided with a stepped or inset shoulder 35 complementary to and receptive of the returnbent undertumed ange 3l of the molding member sheath, with the fold portion 32 thereof lapping the top surface of the member 33 inwardly adjacent to the stepped shoulder 35 and providing a snug, neat joint.

Forwardly beyond the internesting inset shoulder 35, the forward extension member 33 is provided with a generally U-shaped portion 37 extending downwardly and then inwardly to be received within the channel provided by the molding core 28. Along its lower free margin, the portion 37 provides an inwardly extending flange 38 which is provided with a uniform series of retaining fingers 39 which extend obliquely downwardly and inwardly with the rear ends thereof providing sharp biting edges to engage the adjacent surface of the lower leg of the molding core member 28 for generally biting interengagement therewith. In addition, the lingers 39 are of a length to fit in interlocking relation behind the forwardly directed edge of the turned back retaining flange 30 of the molding member sheath. Through this arrangement, the molding assembly 27 can be easily and quickly applied to the front of the sink and sink top or deck assembly by an inward assembly movement wherein the forwardly and downwardly extending portion 37 of the extension member 33 is received within the channel of the molding core 28 and with the ange structure 31, 32 nesting with the inset shoulder structure 35 and the retaining fingers 39 engaging with the lower leg of the molding assembly. Normally the retaining fingers 39 may be biased to extend at their tips to a lower elevation so that they are stressed or tensioned upwardly bythe lower leg ange of the molding incident to the assembly.

When the fingers 39 snap behind the shoulder provided by the opposing edge of the flange 30 substantially inseparable interengagement is effected of the molding 27 with the front of the sink assembly.

In order to facilitate the assembly of the front molding with the sink, the molding is preferably somewhat wider than the deck panel 22 and a filter strip 40 of plywood or the like is preferably provided to fill the gap as shown in Figure 2. cement 4l may be filled into the channel provided within the molding core 28 to further retain the elements in assembly and to provide a non-reverberating or sound deadened assembly.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a sink assembly including a deck and a selfrimming sink supported by said deck and having a forwardly extending rimming flange provided with a returnbent channel shaped portion fitting about the forward edge of the deck, said retum-bent ange portion having self-carried extremity retaining means thereon, and a molding structure asembled about the forward edge of the deck and said return-bent flange structure of the sink and having a portion thereof below the deck automatically interengaged retainingly by said retaining means, said retaining means comprising rearwardly directed biting teeth and said portion of the molding pro viding a surface that is bitingly engaged by said teeth.

2. In a self-rimming sink structure, a deck having a sink receiving opening therein, a sink of sheet metal provided with a bowl inserted in said opening and having a rim fian'ge extending forwardly on the deck adjacent to said opening and provided with an extension projecting beyond the forward edge of the deck and terminating in a generally U-shaped portion having on the distal extremity thereof a series of retaining fingers projecting generally rearwardly and resiliently flexibly deflectable relative to the plane of said extremity, and a molding mem- In addition, mastic material or ber comprising a generally Ushaped cross-section core dimensioned for internested reception of said U-shaped portion, said core having a thin corrosion resistant metal lic sheath over the outer surface thereof and connected thereto by means including a return-bent lower marginal flange portion providing aforwardly directed shoulder behind which the retaining fingers are automatically, interlockingly, resiliently, snappingly engageable in the assembly.

3. In a self-rimming sink structure, a deck having a sink receiving opening therein, a sink of sheet metal provided with a bowl inserted in said opening and having a rim flange extending forwardly on the deck adjacent to said opening and provided with an extension projecting beyond the forward edge of the deck and terminating in a generally U-shaped portion having on the distal extremity thereof a series of retaining fingers projecting generally rearwardly and resiliently flexibly deflectabley relative to the plane of said extremity, and a molding member comprising a generally U-shaped cross-stion core dimensioned for internested reception of said U- shaped portion, said core having a thin corrosion resistant metallic sheath over the outer surface thereof and connected thereto by means including a return-bent lower marginal flange portion providing a forwardly directed shoulder behind which the retaining fingers are automatically, interlockingly, resiliently, snappingly engageable in the assembly, said retaining fingers having sharp biting edges which are additionally engaged bitingly with the opposing core surface forwardly from said sheath fiange shoulder.

4. In a sink construction, a sheet metal sink bowl structure with a rimming flange, and a sheet metal generally U-shaped extension portion along one edge of said ange butt welded to the edge of the flange and providing means for attachment thereto of a molding strueture, said extension having an undertumed flange provided with retaining fngers projecting therefrom.

5. In a sheet metal sink bowl and self-rimming fiange structure, an extension along one portion of the flange of generally U-shaped formation including a downwardly extending flange portion and a return-bent tiange portion that projects toward the sink bowl, said return-bent flange portion being provided with a series of downwardly angled and rearwardly directed biting tip retaining fingers for engagement with a molding that may be assembled with the U-shaped extension portion.

6. In a self-rimming sink construction, a sheet metal sink bowl structure with a flat rimming tiange normally projecting only a limited distance horizontally, directly from the upper end of the bowl so as to overlie and be at wise supported by the margin of a horizontal top deckvabout an opening therein; a sheet metal extension member of generally U-shaped section disposed along one edge of said flange and having a flat ange, the edge of which is butt welded to the edge of the rimming flange and providing an extension of the rimming fiange adapted to overlie and be flatwise supported by the remainder of the top deck to a vertical edge thereof, and to project beyond, around, and below such top deck vertical edge; and a resilient molding structure of generally U-sliaped section for extending about the deck, and frictionally embracing said U-shaped extension member, and forming a seal therewith.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,690,286 Fitch et al. Nov. 6, 1928 1,836,911 Fitch Dec. 15, 1931 2,088,077 Wood July 27, 1937 2,273,606 Webber Feb. 17, 1942 2,583,702 Meyer Jan. 29, 1952 2,665,182 Stanitz Jan. 5, 1954 2,721,333 Stanitz Oct. 25, 1955 2,793,071 Meyer May 2l. 1957 

